Casey Stoner confirms V8 Supercars move

20 January 2013 — 1:44pm

Two-time MotoGP champion Casey Stoner has confirmed he will make the move to four wheels to race a V8 Supercar this season.

Since announcing his intention to quit the MotoGP circuit last May, Stoner has been strongly linked to a move to the V8s and he will make his debut in the second tier development series at the Adelaide 500 on February 28, News Ltd reported on Sunday.

"It was always my plan during my whole career to drive a V8," Stoner said.

"Since I was 12, I've always been interested in it.

"It's now the new chapter in my career but I have to be realistic and see if we're capable of doing anything."

The 27-year-old Stoner will race a Red Bull Holden Commodore backed by Triple Eight Racing, previously driven by four-time Supercars champion Jamie Whincup, the same team he has already enjoyed a series of training and testing sessions with.

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Stoner follows the path of fellow former motorbike world champion Wayne Gardner into the V8 ranks and said he was under no illusions as to the challenges he would face.

"The hardest thing I have had to do is change whatever I know about braking and changing through gears," Stoner said.

"I am having to rethink again. I have to forget everything I know about bikes and change to learn to drive these."

Stoner's Commodore will wear his famous No.27, the same number with which he won the 2007 and 2011 MotoGP championships.

After an injury-interrupted season Stoner signed off on his MotoGP career in his final race in Valencia, Spain in November, finishing third in the 2012 championship. He said he had no plans to return to the sport.

"I've got no thoughts whatsoever at this time of ever even thinking of coming back to grand prix racing," he said.